Second Chance

Kagura Kyo Shinra

Warning: This story has shounen-ai. So if you don't like homosexual males, you shouldn't read it.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I take no responsibility for these characters or Final Fantasy or anything except this story.

Part Eleven: To Junion

As soon as Tseng made it back to Midgar, he explained everything to Reno, Rude and Elena, but nobody could think of a plan. They knew that by the time Tseng made it to Midgar, Marie and her gang would have left Kalm, leaving no trail and taking Rufus with them. Finally, when they least expected it, they received a break.

"Look at this," Elena groaned.

She set down a newspaper from Junion. On the front page was a huge picture of Junion's new museum, and in the picture was one of Marie's henchmen.

"Like Junion needs a new library," she said.

"Wait! That man!" Tseng exclaimed. "He's one of Marie's men."

Reno stood up, brandishing his rod and grinned. "Well, let's go," he said.

Junion was as busy as usual. Ever since Midgar had been reduced to rubble, many of its citizens moved to Junion to continue their lives. After checking into Junion Hotel, the Turks began questioning citizens, but nobody had any information on Rufus.

"I don't know how to find him," Tseng whispered on their fourth night. "This is all my fault."

"It's not your fault," Elena said. "It's nobody's fault but Marie's. She's the one who deceived everyone."

"Elena's right," Reno said. "She's the one, nobody else. Let's just get some rest and start looking again tomorrow."

"We're sure to find something," Rude added.

"Oh really?" Tseng asked. "What makes you so sure? We've been here for four days and nobody has seen or heard anything about Rufus. We're no closer than we were when we got here. Rufus might already be dead."

"Don't be crazy," Reno laughed.

"I'm not. I'm being realistic. We're too late. They're probably not even here anymore. I say we just give up."

Tseng didn't really want to give up, but he was tired of reaching dead ends and tired of being disappointed. All he wanted to do was feel sorry for himself and Rufus. Why couldn't they just let him suffer in his misery.

"How can you say that!" Elena screamed. "You're just giving up, aren't you. 'We're no closer than we were . . .' 'Rufus might already be dead' Listen to yourself. I thought you cared about him. Two years ago when you were missing, I didn't give up because I cared for you, and I knew you were still alive!"

"I'm sorry, Elena."

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. You should be apologizing to Rufus for giving up on him when he gave everything to Marie for you."

"She's got a point," Reno said.

Rude elbowed him roughly. "He doesn't need to hear it from you too."

"Sorry," Reno mumbled. "But if it was Rude, I wouldn't stop for anything to save him."

"Me too," Rude smiled.

"I'm not just sitting around," Tseng hissed. "I'm looking for him every second that I'm awake. I don't know what else to do. I just . . . I just wanna stop, stop everything."

"Don't be pathetic. Don't be sad. Just find him," Elena spat. "Stop complaining, and find him, the way he would find you."

TBC . . .